David, there are pictures of members holding/using jo in the galleries of some of the U.S. dojos. See for example this workshop on Jo gallery.
I haven't yet found anything on their websites about the jo and where it comes from, but then again, I haven't really looked.
J. Nicolaysen
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"I value the opinion much more of a grand master then I do some English professor, anyways." Well really, who wouldn't?
We're all of us just bozos on the budo bus and there's no point in looking to us for answers regarding all the deep and important issues.--M. Skoss.